While pursuing an interior design degree, Wings student Laura Lavigne, 鈥�17, struggled to balance work, life, and school. Her will to succeed, her determined mindset, and her ability to always strive for excellence kept her pushing toward the finish line.
鈥淎s an adult student, it was difficult balancing my life between working full time, taking full time classes, commuting an hour one way, and finding time for my fianc茅, our two dogs, family, and friends,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淲hile this was extremely challenging and trying, I pushed through. I built on my strengths and continued to aim for outstanding. I never settled and I never gave up.鈥�
Even with a busy schedule, 92国产午夜精品福利 provided Laura with opportunities to get hands-on experience and network with professionals in the industry. She completed an internship where she was able to learn about kitchen and bathroom design and the installation process. She also participated in the Annual Student Juried Artist Exhibition (ASJAE), and attended the Portfolio Review Student Design Days hosted by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA).
With a love for art, detail, and a desire for things to be accurate and precise while still being creative, Laura knew that interior design was the perfect field for her to pursue. It would give her the opportunity to build things and bring her designs to life.
鈥淚 see the designs I create as living art, where people are living and conducting their day-to-day activities in the spaces that I create,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淚 feel confident that my degree will help me move forward with my goals and life by obtaining a career that I love and am extremely passionate about.鈥�
Laura has a passion for historic preservation and adaptive reuse. She would love the opportunity to work with some of the old warehouse buildings in downtown Raleigh and the historic homes in Five Points, Oakwood, and Wake Forest. Her desire is to one day pursue a career in the field of historic preservation if the opportunity becomes available.
The Ottawa, Canada, native was inducted into Kappa Nu Sigma, Kappa Omicron Nu, and Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Societies. She earned honorable mention in the ASJAE for her piece titled 鈥淟iberty in Captivity,鈥� and won the 2016-17 Academic Excellence Award during CSA Day.
鈥淢y experiences at Meredith have made me a better person and a more confident person who now believes she can truly be successful,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淚 have come out of my shell and have learned how to make lasting connections and how to positively market myself.鈥�
Upon graduation, Laura plans to apply for positions with architectural and design firms and local builders in hopes of working on overall space planning, modeling, being a part of the construction process, kitchen and bath design, and choosing furnishings, fabrics, and finishes.
鈥淏eing a member of WINGS, I learned that you are never too old to follow your dreams,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淣ot everyone has the same path, and just because mine isn鈥檛 traditional doesn鈥檛 mean that I will be any less valuable in the workforce.鈥�
Learn more about聽Wings – Adult Education at Meredith.
贰虫辫濒辞谤别听惭别谤别诲颈迟丑’蝉 Interior Design Program.